Purple finches are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, and shrublands. They are also found in urban areas, where they can be seen at bird feeders. Purple finches are opportunistic feeders, and their diet consists of a variety of plant and animal matter.
Plant matter:
* Seeds: Purple finches eat a variety of seeds, including sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, and millet. They also eat weed seeds, such as dandelion seeds and thistle seeds.
* Fruits: Purple finches eat a variety of fruits, including berries, cherries, and apples. They also eat grapes and oranges.
* Buds: Purple finches eat the buds of trees and shrubs.
* Nectar: Purple finches sometimes drink nectar from flowers.
Animal matter:
* Insects: Purple finches eat a variety of insects, including ants, beetles, caterpillars, and grasshoppers. They also eat spiders and worms.
* Other small animals: Purple finches sometimes eat other small animals, such as lizards, frogs, and baby birds.
Purple finches are important members of the ecosystem. They help to control the population of insects and other small animals. They also help to disperse seeds, which helps to promote plant growth.